Engine starter



W 3, 1939. J. H. RiCHARDS 1,753,113

ENGINE STARTER Filed Dec. 17, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 WITNESSES: INVENTORJZl/lUS fi/t/m/ds' May 13, J. H HARDS ENGINE STARTER Filed Dec. 17, 19212 Shets-Sheet 2 WITNESSES: I I INVENTOR 6 E9 7 fig (/Z/fiuS flfife/70rd?- ATTORNEY Patented May 13, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEJULIUS H. RICHARDS, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNEAS- SIGNMENTS, T0 ECLIPSE MACHINE GOMPANY, OF ELMIRA I-IEIGI-I'JlS, NEWYORK,

A conronerion on NEW YORK ENGINE STARTER Application. filed December 17,1921.

vide a starting mechanism of the above-indicated character that embodiesmeans for permitting the engine to operate forwardly and for preventingdamage to the mechanism in case of backfire.

It has been found, in connection with the operation of startingmechanisms, that it is advantageous to effect the operative connectionof the starting motor to the engine before power is applied to themotor. When such method is employed, the engagement of the various partsmay be effected without the sudden shocks that are incident to theengagement, for example,'of the pinion of the so-called screw-shiftstarter with the flywheel of the engine. It has been found, also, thatthe maximum value of the current traversing the starting motor duringthe starting period is materially less under the conditions I havedescribed than in the case of the screw-shift starter. In the latterarrangement, an extremely high peak occurs at the instant of engagementof the pinion and flywheel gear.

In the operation of starting mechanisms of the manually controlled type,it is essential that some means he provided for preventing damage to themechanism in case the engine backfires. Such arrangement must comprise adevice that is capable of transmitting sufiicienttorque to start theengine'but which is capable of yielding in case of backfire. It isdesirable to limit the inertia of the parts to be rotated backwardly incase of backfire.

In accordance with my invention, the pinion for coacting with theflywheel gear is connected to the motor shaft by means of a frictionclutch that is yieldable in case of f backfire. A manually controlledlever effects the engagement of the pinion with the en- Serial No.522,981.

gine member and thereupon closes the circuit of the starting motor. Aroller clutch permits the engine to rotate freely forwardly upon itsstarting. I provide, also, an arrangement whereby, upon the end-to-endengagement of the coact-ing gear teeth, the pinion is biased toward itsoperative position and the starting switch may be closed to effectrotation of the pinion.

My invention will be described in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, in

which Figure 1 is a view, partially in elevation and partially insection, of a starting mechanism constructed in accordance with myinvention and a portion of an engine flywheel gear.

Fig. 2 is a view, similar to Fig. 1, illustrating the several parts intheir respective op- 1 erative positions.

Fig. 3 is an end view, partially in elevation and. partially in section,of the mechanism of Fig. 1.

Figs. 4 and 5 are, respectively, end and longitudinal sectional view ofa tubular housing.

Figs. 6 and 7 are, respectively, end and te)dgewise views of one of theclutch memers.

Figs. 8 and 9 are, respectively end and edgewise views of a secondclutch member.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, an electric starting motor 1has an armature shaft 2 that is rotatably supported at its outer end bya housing member 3. A pinion 4, which is adapted to coact with aflywheel gear 5 of an internalcombustion engine (not shown) is looselymounted upon the armature shaft 2. I

The pinion 4 is operatively connected to the shaft 2 by a train ofmechanism comprising a roller clutch 6 of the one-way positive drivingtype, a tubular housing member 7 and a friction clutch 8. The clutch 8comprises a series of friction disks 9 and 10 that are respectivelyrotatable with the housing 7 and with the shaft 2. Pressure ismaintained upon the clutch members by a compression spring 11 within thehousing 7 and that has a bearing upon an annular retaining ring 12 and adisk 12a that is adjacent to the friction clutch.

The pinion 4 and roller clutch 6 are held within the housing member 7 bymeans of a retaining ring 13 that is engaged by inwardly projectingfingers 14 (Figs. 4 and 5) that are integral with the housing 7.

As best shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the clutch disks 9, which alternate withthe coacting disks 10, are provided with radially-extending projections15 which occupy spaces between axially-extending fingers 16 of thehousing 7 All of the clutch members 9 are, accordingly, rotatable withthe housing member 7. The clutch members 9 are loosely mounted on theshaft 2.

Referring to Figs. 8 and 9, the clutch disks 10 are of such diameterthat they lie wholly withinthe housing member 7 and do not engage thelatter. 'The clutch members 10 are provided with inwardly extendingprojections 17 which extend into axially-extending grooves 18 in theshaft 2. It will be apparent, therefore, that the clutch disks 10 arerotatable with the shaft 2 but are longitudinally slidable relativelythereto and that they are not connected to the housing member 7 exceptby means of their frictional engagement with the clutch members 9. i

The pinion 4, the roller clutch 6, the friction clutch 8 and thecontrolling spring therefor, together with the housing 7, constitute aunit that is slidable on the shaft 2. This unit is controlled by meansof an arrangement comprising a sleeve member 19 that engages the disk12a, a grooved member 20 that is slidably mounted on the sleeve 19, aspring 21 for yieldingly permitting relative movement between thegrooved member 20 and the sleeve 19, and a lever 22 that has a pivotalsupport at 23 and has a bifurcated portion.

or yoke 24 for engaging the grooved member 20. 1

A starting switch 25, which ma for convenience, be located on the frame0 the motor 1, is closed at the end of the movement of the lever 22 toeffect the-meshing of thejpinion 4 of the flywheel gear 5. The operationof the switch 25 relatively to the movement of the pinion 4 may beadjusted by means of a bolt 26 and a nut 27.

It may be assumed that the engine is at rest and'that the various partsoccupy their respective positions in which they are illustrated (Fig.,1) To start the engine, the lever 22 is actuated by a pedal or othersuit able device locatedflnear the seat ofthe'driver.

The grooved member 20 applies force to the spring 21 and the latter, inturn, actuates the unit connected to the pinion 4 longitudinally of theshaft 2. When the several parts occupy their respective, positions inwhich they are illustrated (Fig. 2),, the pinion 4 is completely in meshwith the flywheel gear 5, and the switcltjfiis closed to complete thecircuit of the motor 1 through any suitable or usual connections (notshown). The flywheel gear 5 is then actuated to start the engine fromrest gradually and without shock.

When the engine starts under its own power, it may rotate freelyforwardly by reason of the roller clutch -6, the spring pressed rollers28 (one of which is shown in Fig. 1) permitting relative rotativemovement of the pinion 4 and the housing member 7. The lever 22 may bereleased at any desired time by the operator.

If, upon actuation ofthe lever 22, the teeth of the pinion 4 do. notregister properly with those of the flywheel gear 5, the spring 21 isplaced under compression and the movement of the lever 22 may continueuntil the switch 25 is closed. Immediately upon the rotation of themotor and the pinion 4, the spring 21 forces the pinion 4 into mesh withthe flywheel gear 5. This action occurs before the motor has attained anappreciable speed and there is, consequently, no impact between thecoacting parts.

If, upon operation of the starting motor in the manner previouslydescribed, the engine backfires, no damage may occur to the startingmechanism or to the operator. The

force exerted by the engine is materially greater than the torquerequired to rotate it under starting conditions and the inion 4,

the roller clutch 6, the housing mem er 7 and the clutch members 9 arerotated backwardly. The energy generated by the backfiring of-the engineis quickly absorbed by the friction clutch and the engine is againbrought to rest.

It will be noted that, by reason of the arrangement of the parts shownin the draw- 'ings and described herein, I provide a starting mechanismthat is of comparatively few and simple parts and that is extremelycompact in arrangement. The engine may be started without shock or jarto'ithe apparatus and without the occurrence of excessive peak values ofcurrent. The starting mechanism may be operated without regard to therelative positions of the coacting gear teeth and no harm can result ifthe parts are held in operative engagement regardless of the starting ofthe enginein a forward direction or of backfiring of the engine.

I claim as my invention:

1 In a starting mechanism, the combination with a shaft, a membermounted for longitudinal movement thereon and rotatable movementtherewith and means comprising a manually operable member and a yieldingelement for controlling the longitudinal position of said member,ofmeans comprising a friction clutch having a member rotatable with saidshaft for operatively connecting said member to said shaft.

2. In a starting mechanism, the combination with a shaft, a pinionmounted for longitudinal movement thereon and rotatable movementtherewith and means for actuating said pinion axially when said shaft isstationary, of a friction clutch having one element connected to saidpinion for rotation therewith. when said member is actuated by saidshaft and another element slidably connected to said shaft but rotatabletherewith. 3. In a starting mechanism, the combination with a shaft, amember mounted for lon gitudinal movement thereon and rotatable movementtherewith and manually operable means for controlling the longitudinalposition of said memberwhile the shaft is stationary, of a frictionclutch for slidably and rotatably connecting said member to said shaft.

4. In a starting mechanism, the combination with a shaft and a pinionloosely mounted thereon, of a friction member secured to said pinion forrotation therewith when the pinion is actuated by said shaft, a frictionmember rotatable with said shaft but movable longitudinally thereon andmeans for maintaining said'friction members in yielding engagement.

5. In a starting mechanism, the combination with a gear wheel, a shaftand a pinion loosely mounted thereon, of means for actuating said pinioninto and out of engagement with saidgear wheel, a friction membersecured to said pinion for rotation therewith when the pinion isactuated by the shaft, a friction member rotatable with said shaft butmovable longitudinally thereon and means for maintaining said frictionmembers in yielding engagement.

6. In a starting. mechanism, the combination with a shaft, a drivingmember loosely mounted thereon and a tubular member rotatable with saiddriving member, of a fric tion member rotatable with said driving member.when the pinion is actuated by the shaft, a friction member rotatablewith said shaft but movable longitudinally thereof, and a spring withinsaid tubular member for yieldingly maintaining said friction members inen agement.

I In a starting mechanism, the combina tion with a shaft, a drivingmember loosely mounted thereon and a tubular member secured to saiddriving member, of a plurality of coacting friction members within saidtubular member, certain of said friction members being respectivelyrotatable with said tubular member and slidably keyed to said shaft forrotation therewith, and a spring Within said tubular member foryieldingly maintaining said friction members in engagement.

8. In a starting mechanism, the combination with a grooved shaft, apin'on mgunted thereon, and a'slotted tubular member secured to saidpinion, of a friction clutch within said tubular member, certain of saidclutch members having portions projecting into the grooves of said shaftand the other of said clutch members having portions projecting into theslots in said tubular member, a spring for maintaining said clutchmembers in engagement and means for actuating said pinion and saidmembers asa unit longitudinally of said shaft.

9. In a starting mechanism, the combination with a shaft, a pinionthereon and a member rigidly secured to said pinion, of a frictionclutch comprising a member slidably keyed to said shaft for longitudinalmovement thereon but for rotation therewith and a second memberconnected to said pinion member for rotation therewith when the pinionis actuated by said shaft, means for maintaining said clutch members inengagement and means for actuating said pinion and as sociated memberslongitudinally of said shaft. I

10. In a starting mechanism, the combination with a shaft, a pinionthereon and a member rigidly secured to said pinion, of a frictionclutch comprising a member slidably keyed to said shaft for longitudinalmovement thereon but for rotation therewith and a second memberconnected to said pinion member for rotation therewith when the pinionis actuated by said shaft, yielding means for maintaining the engagementof said clutch members and manually operable means for actuating theassociated members longitudinally of said shaft.

11. In a starting mechanism, the combination with an engine member, of amotor having a shaft, a pinion thereon, means for operatively connectingsaid pinion to said shaft comprising a friction clutch that is slidablyconnected to said shaft for longitudinal movement thereon but forrotation therewith, and manually operable means for actuating saidpinion into engagement with said engine member independently of theoperation ofsaid motor.

12. A starting mechanism comprising a shaft, a pinion mounted forlongitudinal movement thereon and means comprising an overrunning clutchand a friction clutch for operatlvely connecting said pinion to saidshaft.

18. A starting mechanism comprising a shaft, a pinion mounted forlongitudinal movement thereon and means for operativcly connecting saidpinion and said shaft, said means comprising an over-running clutch anda friction clutch operatively connected thereto and having a memberslidably connected to said shaft.

14:. In a starting mechanism, the combination with a motor having ashaft, a pinion andmeans for operatively connecting said pinion to saidshaft, said means comprising a roller clutch and a friction clutchhaving a longitudinally slidable connection to said shaft, of means foractuating said pinion and the associated mechanism longitudinally ofsaid shaft independently of the rotation of the latter.

15. A starting mechanism comprising a shaft, a pinion mounted forlongitudinal movement thereon and means for operatively connecting saidpinion and said shaft, said means comprising a tubular member, a rollerclutch between said pinion and said tubular member, and a frictionclutch between said tubular member and said shaft, andmanually-ope'rable means for actuating said pinion and its connectedmechanism longitudinally of said shaft.

16. A starting'me'chanism comprising a a shaft, a driving member mountedfor longitudinal movement'thereon and means'including a one-way clutchand a yieldable device for operatively connecting said driving member tosaid shaft.

17. A starting mechanism comprising a shaft, a driving member mountedfor longitudinal movement thereon and means including a one-way clutchand a yieldable device for operatively connecting said driving mem-' berto said shaft, said clutch being located between the driving member andyieldable 5 tion of said driving member, said means indevice.

18. In a starting mechanism, the'combina tion of a shaft, a drivingmember shiftable longitudinally thereon, and means for controlling thelongitudinal position ofsaid driving member and its rotation by theshaft, said means including a manually-shiftable member movablelongitudinally of the shaft and drivingly connected to the drivingmember, and a friction clutch connection between said shiftable memberand the shaft.

20. In a starting mechanism,'the combination of a rotatable shaft, adrivin member longitudinally movable thereon an rotatable with respectthereto, and means for controlling the longitudinal position and therotacluding a manuall -shiftable member movable with said pimonlongitudinally of'the shaft and having respective operative connectionsrotatively with said shaft and said ,driving member, one said connectioncomprising yielding meansand the other said connection comprisingacne-way clutch.

21. In a starting'mechanism, the combination of a rotatable shaft, adriving member movable longitudinally along and rotatably about saidshaft, means including a one-way clutch and a yieldable device foroperatively connecting said driving member to said shaft, and manualmeans for longitudinally moving said connecting means and driving memberin unison.

22. A starting mechanism comprising a rotatable shaft, a drivingmembermounted for longitudinal and rotary movement with respect to saidshaft, means including a oneway clutch and a yielding device for oper--mounted on the shaft for longitudinal movement thereon and operativelyconnected with said driving member to move it longitudinally, and meansincluding a one-way clutch and a yielding device for operativelyconnecting said driving member with said shaft for rotation therewith. 1

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 22nd dayof Nov., 1921.

JULIUS H. RICHARDS.

